-Believe Me, It's True-
Summary: Sasuke has always hid his innermost feelings for as long as he can remember. But at age sixteen, he can't afford to hide those feelings anymore. But what if the one he loves hates him for past misunderstandings? SasuxSaku
Chapter Nine: Right Here Waiting
A ruby-eyed teenager sat impatiently on the ledge of the long stone wall, her long legs swinging at its edge. She flipped back her long black hair and scowled. Just before she could go crazy and scream in surrender a flash of pink could be seen just ahead of the path her fiery eyes were so intently stuck on. She finally smiled; the first smile in many long weeks after that pink-haired witch got her into so much trouble.
"SAKURA!" she screamed cupping her hands around her mouth.
Sakura walked up to the girl, a smirk playing her lips. She dropped the bag on the path and said calmly, "Himiko…what a welcoming committee."
Himiko forced herself to smile and said, "Where the hell have you been?"
"Oh, here and there, somewhere over the rainbow. You know, places like this and that."
"Don't mess with me! You went back to that shinobi village of yours!"
Sakura stepped closer to her and whispered with ferocity, "You just spoke taboo."
Himiko stared at her with daggers; if looks could kill Sakura would be severely injured but not dead. "You are taboo you shinobi."
"Why don't you go crawl to Sanosuke like you always do before I pull that pretty little head off your shoulders?"
Himiko whirled around and said with equal fierceness, "Sanosuke left me to look for you! I have felt so much pain to know that I can never have him…he was obsessed with you…Doesn't that mean anything?"
Sakura walked by her and said softly, her emerald eyes gleaming, "Nothing means more to me than what I have left behind. You don't understand pain as much as I do."
If looks could kill, Himiko would be dead.
Uchiha Sasuke stirred slightly in his bed, groaning as the way too early morning sun rose to meet his eyes. He sat up in his bed, pissed off.
What the hell?
There was an insane number of knocks at his door, and it was getting really, really, REALLY annoying.
"Sasuke! Sasuke!"
Sasuke got out of his bed, and before opening the door to his apartment, he put on a simple t-shit. He opened his door to reveal a blonde shinobi panting, Hinata behind him.
"Why the hell are you here, Naruto?"
Naruto was breathing heavily, unable to answer for several minutes. He did manage to utter a single name, "S-Sa-Sakura!"
Sasuke stared at him, puzzled. He then turned to Hinata, question in his onyx eyes.
"She's not in her room," she started, "and all of her stuff is gone. She didn't leave a note or anything…and…I…I'm worried about her. I think she left!"
Naruto, finally getting a word or two in said, "We think she went back to that village in the mountains….with Nami and what's-his-face."
"Then why are you here?"
"We just thought that maybe she came here first before leaving…to say goodbye to you like last time." Hinata said.
Sasuke just stared at her, and then he turned to Naruto, hoping for an explanation. Unfortunately, he did not get one as Naruto just stared at him with his blue eyes, worry and concern for their pink-haired friend. Sasuke didn't say anything; he just stood there, resisting the urge to scream, to cry, to rant, to…to…do something! She left him again…after all this time…she left him. He thought that she would stay for good, to stay with him. He wanted Sakura to stay with him. He needed Sakura to be with him…
"And she just came back too…" Naruto said, scratching the back of his head. "She didn't say goodbye this time either…."
Yeah, Sasuke thought, no goodbye.
Hinata and Naruto both left the now silent Sasuke. He closed the door behind them and went up to his bedroom. He paced back and forth…his mind racing…back and forth…mind racing…back and forth…until a glint of silver caught his eye.
It was at the edge of his bed, hanging there as if for dear life.
He knew what it was because he saw it plenty of times around her neck, even if it was hidden by others. She only wore it because he was the one to give it to her…
Why did she have to leave?
Sasuke took the necklace from his bed and held it tight in his grasp. He collapsed in his bed and sighed.
"Sakura…"
"GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT!" a furious and fuming Nami yelled, literally kicking the visitor out of her home. Sanosuke fell to the ground, head first.
"Nami! You shouldn't do that to him!" a girl said, rushing to Sanosuke's side and helping him up. She looked at Nami with pleading eyes and added, "What would Sakura say if she saw you do that!"
"Well, I would probably say 'Good job' to Nami."
The girl spun around, her long lavender hair twirling behind her. Her lilac eyes grew big as she saw a familiar face smiling at her. "Sakura!"
"Hey Natsumi! How's it going?" asked Sakura with a big smile on her face.
Natsumi came and hugged her, squeezing the life out of her role model. Sakura pulled away and looked at the Nami look a like. She really did look a whole like Nami, except now her hair was the length of Sakura's – really long – and her eyes were not gold, but a really light shade of purple.
"Saku…Sakura." Sanosuke said, so very close to saying the small nickname he used to call her.
"Sanosuke. I thought you would be with Himiko…guess I was wrong."
"I…was with the Council. They asked for my resignation and…yeah."
"Resignation?" Sakura stared at him in disbelief.
He shrugged his shoulders and gave her one of his sparkling smiles. "Something to do with um, I don't know. Ask Nami."
Nami sighed and said, "Failure to obtain shinobi in the required time. It totally slipped his mind that he had a year and a half to find that shinobi. So the Council sent the scouts – that would be me – to get him and fire his sorry ass."
Natsumi stared at Nami, "Nami! How could you do that to Sanosuke!"
He smiled, "Oh well, it's for a good reason."
Sakura smiled back at Sanosuke.
"Thank you, Sano…"
"Hey, what are you talking about? There's no need to thank me! I don't even know the reason why…" he winked at her and walked casually away, his hands shoved in his pockets. Natsumi bowed, her lavender hair flowing behind her, and followed after him.
"You know what," said Nami, scratching the back of her head, "I don't think he's registered that you're off limits."
Sakura just stared at the retreating figure of Aoyama Sanosuke as he smiled at Natsumi. There she was, Haruno Sakura, the one who stole his heart.
"What are you going to do now?"
"About what?" she inquired.
"Ah, never mind. You should probably head home…I mean, to your aunt's place."
"No, I don't think I will."
Nami looked at her; she then understood and shrugged her shoulders. "Whatever you say, chief."
Ino stared at the door, her hand trembling as she tried to turn the doorknob. She gulped and opened the door.
"Sasuke?"
She walked around his apartment room, until she reached the locked door. She brought her hand to it and knocked.
"Sasuke? Are you in there?"
She heard nothing. She sighed. Ino has heard that Sasuke has locked himself up in his room for almost three days. No one has seen him or heard from him or anything. "Sasuke?"
Ino knew he wouldn't open the door for her, after all, she threaten to ruin him. She almost killed the most important person in Sasuke's life!
"Sasuke, I'm so sorry." She whispered, leaning into the door. "But please, don't…keep yourself locked up. Please. I know…that you miss her. Don't stay in here! Look for her…don't wait anymore…go to her…oh Sasuke…I know you want to! Don't stay here! Sasuke…"
Ino wiped a steady tear from her eyes and inhaled deeply. Who was she kidding? He would not listen to her, she knew that. Ino angrily pounded on the door with her fists.
"Who do you think you are? You can't expect everything to go your way! You…have…to do…SOMETHING! Uchiha Sasuke!"
She slumped to the floor, her golden hair covering her tear-stricken face. The door in front of her opened and a hand wiped away a tear. She looked up to only meet onyx eyes.
"Sasuke…I'm so…"
"I know."
He stood up, and helped the blonde to her feet. "Ino, thanks…I guess."
She smiled and brought her hands to her waist. "You guess? You better be grateful! Now get your ass out of Konoha! It'll take you at least two days to get to that mountain village, but you could get there half the time if you run."
Sasuke just stood there, and said again, "Thank you."
Ino dropped her hands to her side and said, "Sasuke, go already. She's waiting for you and you know it!"
Sasuke nodded and began to move, but Ino stopped him. He turned to face her.
"If she hurts you again, then I'm always here."
She leaned in and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
"Ino…"
"Get out of here!"
Ino watched as the raven-haired shinobi walked out the door. She shook her head. Ino knew all too well that no matter how hard she tried, the way Sasuke and Sakura feel for each other will never be broken.
"The things I do for that boy!"
Tsunade yawned and propped her shoulder on her desk. She leaned her head on her arm and resisted the urge to sleep. Paperwork upon paperwork filled her desk and she was growing very tiresome about it.
"Tsunade!"
The oak doors to her office burst open as a teenage boy quickly walked in, slamming his hands on her desk.
"Where is Sakura?"
The Hokage smiled. "Well hello to you too, Sasuke. Out of your room already?"
Sasuke didn't say anything. He just stared at her with intense onyx eyes.
She sighed. "Oh, all right already. She went to that Western Mountain Village, or whatever it's called!"
"I know that! But how…"
"Just follow the path. There will be a fork in the road, take the right part and keep on going for at least…um…I would say about twenty something miles. Then there will be a split path between three roads. One of them leads back to Konohagakure, another to some cliff, and the last goes to Sakura."
Sasuke just glared at her, "And what path do I take?"
Tsunade shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know; I have never been out that far!"
Sasuke felt his left eye beginning to twitch in annoyance. He turned around and muttered a gruff thanks before closing the doors behind him.
The Hokage leaned in to her chair and smiled. "To be young and in love!"
Running.
That's what he was doing.
Running.
He ran along the path, jumping over any obstacles in his way.
Running…to her.
Sasuke stopped for a minute at the fork. Take the right one she said, so he did. He quickened his pace.
Twenty something miles to go.
"Sakura! Are you just going to sit here all day? I'm so bored!" Nami complained, standing up.
Sakura looked at the lavender haired girl and gave her a smile. "You really are like Naruto. If I didn't know better I would say you were twins."
Nami pouted. "Kazuma is the only one fit to be my twinbrother. Naruto could be a…distant relative twice removed or something!"
Sakura smiled at her and once again rested her head on the green grass. She closed her eyes and listened to the sway of the leaves against the wind.
It was so peaceful…
"Sakura, how long are you going to wait?"
She kept her eyes closed and replied quietly, "For what?"
Nami sighed. "Tenten told me, when I was staying with her that something was going on between you and Sasuke…how long are you going to wait for him?"
Sakura didn't reply. How long will I wait for him?
"Oh, I'm sorry Sakura. I didn't mean to bring it up."
"It's okay. Even if I did wait, he would never come."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. I know this because he too waits for me."
"Then," Nami started, "what's the point of waiting for each other?"
Sakura lay there in silence, thinking.
After several moments, Nami began to feel uncomfortable with her silence. Seriously, what fourteen year old girl wouldn't?
She felt Nami stir beside her as she stood up. "Sakura, I'm going to leave now. Natsumi asked me to go to that class with her again."
Sakura opened her eyes to look up at the girl. "That literary class?"
Nami adjusted the bandana on her head. "No, she wants to become a Scout, like me. She's going to those classes I took…they really suck though."
"Have fun."
"I know I will." She replied sarcastically.
"I think…I'll take a nap…"
"You do that, chief."
Nami left the now sleeping figure and made her way back to the village. No one will know that Sakura was there, no one ever did.
For a full whole day, Sasuke has been running. He did not stop, he just kept on going. He knew he was tired, his mind wanted him to take a breather, but he did not allow himself to do so…he wanted to find her.
He reached the three paths yesterday, but he didn't stop to decide and choose. Sasuke chose the middle way and kept on running until dusk hit dawn.
His legs were relieved that smoke could be seen just ahead. He kept on going until he reached a stone ledge, with a black haired girl sitting there.
She was humming to herself, her long legs swinging back and forth. Her long hair was held back with a white ribbon, few shorter strands covering her ruby eyes. Those very eyes were now staring at Sasuke as he made his way to the ledge.
"Who are you?" she asked, staring at him deeply.
Sasuke stared at her.
"Ahem," she declared, "I believe I have asked you a question. I'll ask again: Who are you?"
Sasuke looked at her and began to walk away, but she stood up and blocked the path.
"WHO are you?"
"Damn woman! Does it matter?"
"Yes! I'm supposed to bewatching the entrance! Who are YOU?"
"I'm looking for someone in your village."
She sighed and said again, her patience diminishing, "I DON'T CARE! WHO ARE YOU?"
He still didn't reply, even if he was in the same place as Sakura, he would still have to look for her. "I don't have time for this."
"Just because you're a freaking hottie doesn't give you the right to ignore me!"
He irritated gave one last look at the annoying girl and vanished in a cloud of smoke.
Himiko stared at the apparently deaf – but very cute –onyx eyed teen. Her eyes then steadily moved to the headband across his forehead…then all of a sudden…
He just went poof!
She stared at the spot where he once stood.
Minutes passed before the truth hit her…
"Oh…my….freaking…GOD! HE WAS A SHINOBI!" she screamed.
Sasuke appeared on one of the village's few streets. He looked up to see a huge, plain building surrounded by numerous amounts of trees. The building was plain white…and had around five windows, each signifying five floors. Where the heck was he?
The two pale doors of the building opened, and two small girls with lavender hair walked out, chattering nonstop to each other.
"Oh, I think I failed that exam! It was hard, how did you ever manage to pass it?" the long-haired one asked.
The shorter-haired one shrugged. "I guessed on half of it…"
"Sister!"
"I'm kidding! The test was okay; I failed the written part…"
"I passed that!"
"And…I passed the simulation…"
"I failed that one today!"
"And aced the…"
Sasuke didn't care about her stupid exam! He was getting annoyed just listening to them! What hit him most about them was that they both looked so identical – save for their hair – and oddly…familiar.
"This is my friend, Nami." Sakura said.
Nami…?
"Eleven kicks in the gut, I wanted to do more but my body couldn't handle the strain."
Shit…he remembered now. One of them was the girl who kicked Sanosuke to the ground. Which one was it again? Did she have short hair or long hair? Were her eyes the lilac color? If only he paid attention.
He figured one of them had to be Nami. She had to lead him to Sakura or else his tired body would collapse from the strain it took from all the running. He wiped away the sweat from his forehead and decided to take the chance.
Sasuke grabbed the lavender-haired girl and said, "Nami?"
She looked at him with pale eyes and said, "N-no! I'm Natsumi!"
Nami came up behind her, shocked at the onyx eyed shinobi that appeared out of nowhere.
"Sasuke! What the hell are you doing here?" Nami asked, staring at him then moving to her stunned sister.
He was breathing hard, sweat glistening from his brow.
"Where is Sakura?" He asked sharply.
Natsumi looked at the strange man then at her sister who was now staring at him with fierce, golden eyes.
"Who," she asked, her eyes fixed upon him, "are you? What do you want with Sakura?"
Sasuke sighed and said calmly, "My name is Uchiha Sasuke."
"Sasuke!" Nami interjected, "What the hell are you doing here? Do you want your ass kicked? Shinobi are taboo around these parts!"
"Shinobi?" Natsumi whispered her voice cracking.
"I'm here for Sakura. Where is she?"
Nami sighed. "You stubborn idiot. Sakura doesn't want to see you!"
Flashback
"Nami, if Sasuke does come for me, tell him…tell him that I don't want to see him."
Nami stared at her. "Why? Aren't you waiting for him to come get you? Isn't that why you came here?"
"It's best if…it's best if he just keeps on waiting."
"Chief…"
"Trust me Nami; it's for the best…for both of us."
End Flashback
Sasuke stared at her and said angrily, "What?"
"You heard me! She doesn't want to see you!"
"You're lying to me." He said, his eyes still fixated on her figure, "She's waiting for me, I know it."
"Don't fool yourself, Uchiha!" Nami said, running straight for him.
Nami rushed at him and gave him dozens of straight punches. He blocked every single one. She used this as a diversion and since his hands were occupied, kicked him once in the gut. Nami smirked in content as Sasuke jumped backwards to avoid anymore hits from the younger girl.
"You're toying with me, Uchiha!"
"Where is Sakura?" He asked again, calmly and more quietly than before.
"STOP ASKING!" Nami replied as she headed straight for him once again.
"Sister!" Natsumi yelled as she saw the scene before her.
Nami's eyes were wide open in surprise. Sasuke had her trapped. He stood behind her; his strong hand was holding her arm behind her head, while the other was holding her left arm to her back. She was trapped…
"I'll ask you again," Sasuke whispered, the hint of exhaustion lingering in his voice, "where is Sakura?"
"In the forest!" sputtered Nami. "She's sleeping!"
Natsumi stepped to them, her arms outstretched, "Nami!"
"Let me go, you idiot!"
Sasuke released her and sped towards the trees.
"Nami!" Natsumi helped her sister up and sighed. "I'm glad you're not seriously injured!"
Nami smiled at her. "I'm invincible!"
"More like an imbecile!"
"Ah, oh well. Chief ought to be mad at me…I told Sasuke where she was!"
"She will not be mad, probably happy…"
"I guess so…"
Sasuke was running again, despite his exhausted state he was running. He had to find Sakura, find out why she left…
Sasuke didn't want to lose her, lose the person he loved the most, the only person he felt this way about.
He stopped, leaning his weight on the tree. He found her. He finally found her. There she was, lying on the grass. Sasuke slowly approached her and held his breath.
Sakura was sleeping soundly on the grassy plain, her chest rising with every breath she took. One of her hands was behind her head while the other rested on her stomach. Strands of her pink hair somehow loosened from the braid and were strewn around her. She looked so peaceful, so innocent, so beautiful to the eyes of Uchiha Sasuke.
"Sakura?" he whispered.
She stirred a little in her sleep, but did not awaken.
He unconsciously brought his hand to her face and brushed strands of hair away from her closed eyelids.
If only this moment could last forever…
"S…Sasuke…"
He looked at her and smiled. She was dreaming of him.
"Sasuke…Sasuke…no…"
Sasuke looked at the sleeping figure in confusion.
"Don't Sasuke…don't leave me…"
A tear escaped her closed eyes as she continued to mutter in her sleep.
"Sakura…"
He pulled back as Sakura's eyes opened and she sprang from her sleeping position screaming, "SASUKE!"
Sakura was breathing hard, her eyes opened wide in fear. "Sasuke…"
She blinked twice before feeling a presence behind her. She turned around and gasped.
"Sasuke!" She exclaimed, forgetting that she vowed to only call him 'Uchiha.'
Sasuke gave her a small, meek smile. "Sakura…I've missed you."
Sasuke was tired…he could barely stay awake. He finally got to see Sakura again but his eyelids were feeling very heavy…
"Sasuke? What's the matter?"
His eyes closed slowly before he collapsed onto Sakura's lap.
"Eh? Get up you pervert!" Sakura tried to move his body, but he would not budge. "Are you sleeping?"
She didn't expect an answer. She shifted her position and leaned her body against a nearby tree. His head was still on her lap, his chest moving with his breath.
"I love you…" he whispered in his slumber.
Sakura sighed as she felt the color rise in her cheeks. She began to stroke his raven hair as he continued to dream away.
"I know, Sasuke," she whispered back, "I know."
To Be Continued…
-Author's note: argg! Sorry for the really long delay! High skool is draining away all of my time! ARG! Well…I tried to make up for it with a nice…long chapter! I hope you guys enjoyed it! Reviews/comments/flames/questions anything like that is always welcome!
Preview of Ch.10: No More Lies
"Sasuke," Sakura said, tears streaming down her cheeks, "please, stop."
"Sakura you have to listen to me…it was just-"
"No! I don't want to hear it! Sasuke, you're breaking my heart."
He moved forward, wiping away the tears gingerly. "Sakura, I don't want to see you cry anymore…I don't want to be the cause of your pain…"
She pulled away, staring at him with frightened eyes. "Sasuke…please…I'm begging you…PLEASE JUST STOP!"